Dispensing machine



Feb. 13, 1951 J. E. STEWART 2,541,787

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l f ,I ...,"ffaws Arrow/EX Feb. 13, 1951 J. E. STEWART 2,541,787

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JAMES E. STEWART Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED'STATES PATENT oFFlCE msrENsING MACHINE James E. Stewart, Rye, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cleveland-Detroit Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,354

12 Claims. (Cl. 312- 97.1)

tainers formed of paper or cardboards treated with waxy materials, varnishes, etc., to prevent the liquids therein from leaking out. a substantial percentage of such containers turn out to be leakers, and it is an object of this invention to provide in machines for dispensing or vending food drinks, packaged in such containers, individual holders or trays for the containers, each holder being leakproof and adapted to catch and retain all of the liquid which may leak from the container positioned therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision. in a dispensing machine, of a shelf or support, an individual holder or tray adapted to receive a container of liquid, said holder being leakproof and adapted to receive the contents of said container in the event of leakage of said contents, and further being adapted to be removed from said support, sterilized, and replaced thereon.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a dispensing machine, ofa round shell rotatably supported therein, said shelf having a plurality of radial slots formed therein, and a plurality of holders or trays each tray having means depending therefrom and adapted to extend through one of said slots and thereby slidably secure it on the shelf. There is one tray for each slot in said shelf, each said tray being adapted to be slid outwardly from a normal position on said shelf. Each tray is shaped to accommodate a paper or cardboard carton containing a food drink and each tray is adapted to catch and retain the contents of its carton in the event that the latter is a 1eaker. A fea-ture of the device is that the trays may be However,

removed from the shelf by disengaging the del trays being shaped, on at least one end thereof, to receive the type or shape of carton to be dispensed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings which are given by way of example to illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a dispensing machine taken along the lines I-I of Figlure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the trays devised to accommodate the average square half pint containers of milk;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the tray as seen along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the tray gf Figure 3 taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure and Figure 6 is a sectional elevation oi' the tray as viewed along the lines 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the machine has a cabinet with a tubular outer wall I0, and within and spaced apart from this Awall is a second or inner tubular wall II. Within the space between these walls is a body of insulation I2.

Formed in the cabinet is an opening I3, which is bounded on the right side by a non-metallic breaker strip I4 and is framed in by a bevel faced non-metallic breaker strip I5, the beveled face I5a of which forms clearance for means to be presently described. The outer end of the opening I3 is stepped out wider as at I3a.

A fixed central vertical shaft I6 is mounted in the cabinet, and I prefer to have it hollow for strength and lightness of weight. Keyed on the shaft IB- is a collar I1, which is counterbored to accommodate a lower race I8 of a thrust bearing I9. A series of balls are positioned on this race and these balls are engaged by an upper race 20.

A round shelf 2| has a hub 22 which is journaled on the shaft I6 and the lower end of which bears against the upper member 20 of the thrust bearing, and consequently the weight of the shelf and everything thereon is supported by the thrust bearing I9.

The shelf 2l has a plurality of radial slots 23 formed therein and the outer end of each slot is widened at 24, the purpose of which will be Presently described.

A plurality of spaced notches is formed in the assura? 3 outer edge of the shelf 2l. There are as many notches as there are radial slots 23, and thereby are formed the ratchet teeth 25 by means of which the shelf may be advanced in steps in a counterclockwise direction.

A door 26 is hingedly mounted in the widened portion 13a of the opening i3, by means of a vertical hinge shaft 27, and this door carries a knob 28 near the left edge thereof, as seen in Figure 1, and a stop boss 29 near the right edge thereof.

A bar 30 has one end thereof connected to the door 26 by means of a pivot pin 3l, and carries on its other end an upstandlng stud 32. The bar 30 is positioned just below the shelf 2l, and is maintained in this position by means of a guide bracket 33 which is secured to the inner wall il by means of screws engaging tapped holes in a bar 34. A spring 35 has one end looped through a hole 36 formed in the bar 30, and has its other end connected to a stud 3'! within the cabinet. The spring is so positioned that it constantly urges the stud 32, which stands up from the surface of the bar 30, to a point above the level of the upper surface of the shelf 2|, against the outer edge of the shelf 2l and insures the engagement of the boss 32 with the ratchet teeth 25.

The normal, or at rest position of the shelf 2i is always with the center line of one of the slots 23 in alignment with the vertical center line of the opening i3.

A pawl 38, pivotally carried on a support 39 within the cabinet has a spring d2, one end of which engages a stud 30 on the pawl, and the other end of which engages a stud t! carried on the support 39 and thereby the point of the pawl will always engage one of the ratchet teeth 25 and prevent the shelf from being moved backwards. Y

The door 2t carries on its lower edge a cam 33, the purpose of which will presently be explained.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, my new and improved tray is shown. This tray includes a bottom wall ed, end walls t and t6, and side walls il and d. The side wall ill has a straight portion dla, and the side wall t has a straight portion Ltda. are parallel, spaced apart from each other and are joined by the side d5 which is at a right angle with respect to them, hence the side #t5 and the portions lla and dta form a socket to accommo date a standard one-half pint paper and paraffin. milk container. The tray is preferably made of one piece and is adapted to catch the contents of leaky containers and prevent the milk or other contents from getting onto the surfaces of other portions of the cabinet. My inventive concept contemplates the removal and sterilization of these trays (preferably at some convenient central location). Obviously it would be a lot of trouble to transport the entire cabinet away to be sterilized, and it would not be feasible to attempt it on the premises Where the machine is located, and therefore it is believed that the ability to catch the leaks, and theability to remove and sterilize the trays which have been contaminated by leakers, is an important advance in the art.

The tray has extending downwardly from the bottom thereof, and preferably on the centerline, a round stud 5l. This stud, as may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, is intermediate the ends of the tray, and it may be secured to the tray in any suitable manner. On the bottom 44 of the tray,

These straight portions adjacent to the small 'end thereof. is a second depending boss 32 which is generally rectangular in form, and which is cut away at 53 and 54 (Figure 6), to leave a web 55 which ts the radial slots in the shelf 2|. The overhanging portions 52a and 52h will readily pass through the widened key-hole ends24 of the slots, therefore in mounting a tray on the shelf 2 I, the operator tilts the tray by moving the keyhole end 24 of a slot. When the overhanging portions a and 52h pass through-leaving the web portion 55 within the keyhole 24, he may lthen push the tray toward the center of the shelf until a point is reached where the boss 5l may enter the slot 23. At this point the front end of the tray may be lowered so that the boss 5l enters the slot and the bottom 34 of the tray rests on the shelf. Then the tray may be pushed radially toward the center, with the studs di and 52 guiding it until it is stopped by the engagement of the web 55 of the stud 52 with the inner end of the slot. Thus each slot 23 may be provided with a tray 50, and these trays may be slid or moved back and forth in the slots. Obviously, when the tray is moved outwardly (from the center) the engagement of the stud 5| with the outer end of the slot is the limit of the outward movement.

When a tray is to be removed from. the shelf (for example to be sterilized) it is moved outwardly with its outer end raised until the stud 52 reaches the outer or keyhole end 24 of its slot, following which the tray may be lifted out.

To reduce the chance of liquid, which has leaked from a leaky container, sloshng over the sides of the tray when the shelf is rotated, in dispensing or vending, l provide a top plate bl, the end 58 of which forms with the sides d5, dla and d8a, a square socket which defines a definite position for the container. The top plate 5l has a vent 53 formed in the other end to facilitate water to drain therefrom while the tray is being washed and sterilized.

Assuming that the shelf 2i is loaded with trays, each carrying a container, the containers may be dispensed from the machine as follows:

The operator grasps the knob 2@ and swings the door open to the dotted position, deflned by the stop t9, and the rod titl, whose stud @E engages one or the teeth 25 is pulled by the door and advances the shelf 2i one step in a counter=J clockwise direction7 as seen in .Figure l. This moves the empty tray boy from alignment-,with the door and brings the tray 5ta, with its conm tainer, in alignment with the door. The operator may then grasp the container and pull the tray forward to the position shown in dotted lines, and lift the container out.

Then the door 2t is closed, causing two things to occur; (l) the bar 3@ isrnoved to the left and its stud 32 engages the next tooth 25 in the rim of the shelf, and (2) the earn d3 acts against the end of the advanced (and then empty tray and pushes it back to its normal position. mie above action may be repeated until all of the con= tainers are dispensed.

Although I have only described a single shelf, and a single door, it is my intention to also use cabinets having a plurality of shelves at different levels Within the cabinet, and l intend to have openings in the cabinet giving access to these different shelves. However, since the shelves, trays, etc., may be duplicates of those already described, it is believed unnecessary to repeat the description. The cabinets in some instances may be refrigerated, in other instances may be heateds and in still other instances may be neither refrigerated nor heated.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the arrangements herein shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Inl a device of the character described, a cabinet having at least one opening in the wall thereof, a door forming a closure for said opening, a round shelf rotatably supported therein; a series of radial slots formed in said shelf, a plurality of trays removably carried on said shelf each slidably engaging a different slot, each tray being adapted to receive a container having a food drink therein and adapted to catch and retain any of said drink which may leak from said container, and means to rotate said shelf in steps to sequentially bring said containers into positions accessible via said opening.

2. In a dispensing machine, a cabinet having at least one opening in the wall thereof, a closure for said opening, a central vertical shaft in said cabinet, a disc-like shelf rotatably supported on said shaft, at least one radial slot formed in said shelf, a tray removably carried on said shelf, and having depending means engaging said slot, said tray being adapted to support a container of liquid, and means to rotate said shelf to a position adjacent to said opening so that said closure may be opened and said container may be removed from said machine, said tray being adapted to catch and retain liquid in the event that any leaks from said container.

3. In a dispensing machine, a casing having a rotatable support having a radial slot formed therein, and a tray detachably carried on said support and having depending studs thereon slidably engaging said slot, said tray being in the form of a shallow vessel adapted to support a container and adapted to catch and retain any portion of the contents of said container which may leak therefrom, thereby preventing said support from being contaminated by leaky containers.

4. In a dispensing machinea casinghaving a rotatable support therein, a tray positioned on said support, and means partly on said support and partly on said tray for detachably retaining said tray on said support, said means being comprised of a radial slot formed in said rotatable support. and a plurality of depending lugs on said tray slidably engaging said slot, said tray being comprised of a shallow vessel and having at least a portion of its wall adapted to be engaged by walls of a container positioned therein, said tray also being adapted to catch and retain any portion of the contents of said container which may leak therefrom.

5. In a dispensing machine, a vertical cylindrical casing having an opening in the wall thereof, a door forming a closure for said opening, a central vertical shaft therein, a round shelf rotatably supported on said shaft, a plurality of radial slots formed in said shelf, a plurality of trays positioned on said shelf, each'tray carrying slot engaging means, each tray being comprised of a shallow vessel adapted to receive a container of liquid and serving to catch and retain any portion of the contents of said container which may leak therefrom, and means to rotate said shelf in steps substantially equal to the spacing of said slots.

6. In a dispensing machine, a vertical cylindrical casing having an opening in the wall thereof,

liquid in one end thereof and serving to catch and retain any portion of the contents of said container which may leak therefrom, and means to advance said shelf in angular steps corresponding to the spacing of said slots.

`'1. In a dispensing machine, a vertical casing having an opening in the Wall thereof, a door forming a closure for said opening, a central vertical shaft therein. a round shelf rotatably supported on said shaft, a'plurality of radial slots formed in said shelf, a plurality of trays positioned on said shelf one for each slot, each tray having two depending bosses spaced apart from each other a distance substantially less than the lengths of said slots, the bosses on each tray extending through its slot and defining a path along which said tray may be moved radially, and means to advance said shelf in steps substantially equal to the spacing of said radial slots, each tray being adapted to support a food drink container in one end thereof and adapted to retain any of said drink which may leak therefrom.

8. In a dispensing machine, a vertical cylindrical casing having an opening in the wall thereof, a door forming a closure for said opening, a central vertical shaft therein, a round shelf rotatably supported on said shaft, a plurality of radial slots formed in said shaft, a plurality of trays positioned on said shelf, one for each slot, each tray having atleast two depending bosses spaced apart from each other a distance substantially less than the length of any of said slots, the bosses on each tray extending through its slot and defining a path along which said tray may be moved radially toward and away from said opening, each tray having one end thereof in the form of a socket adapted to receive a food drink container and adapted to retain any of said drink which may leak therefrom, and means to advance said shelf in steps corresponding to said radial slots.

9. In a dispensing machine, a vertical cylindrical casing having an opening in the wall thereof, a door forming a closure for said opening, a central vertical shaft therein, a round shelf rotatably supported on said shaft, a plurality of radial slots formed in said shelf, a plurality of trays positioned on said shelf, each tray being comprised of an elongated shallow vessel having vertical end and side walls, one end wall and connected side walls being adapted to engage and retain a food drink container when the latter is positioned therein, said tray also having depending bosses adapted to extend through its slot in said shelf and form therewith movable means retaining said tray on Said shelf.

10. In a dispending machine, a vertical cylindrical casing having an opening in the Wall thereof, a door forming a closure for said opening, a central vertical shaft therein, a round shelf rotatably supported on said shaft, a plurality of radial slots formed in said shaft, a plurality of trays positioned on said shelf, each tray being comprised of an elongated tapered shallow vessel having an end wall with side walls connected thereto and converging toward and connected to a second wider end wall on the other amaca? end thereof, said second end wall and portions of said side Walls adjacent thereto forming a socket into which a food drink container may he posi, tioned, said tray also having depending bosses thereon in spaced relation to each other and adapted to detachably engage its slot in said shelf.

ll. The invention according to claim l0 in which a plate member is secured to said rst end -wall and to said side walls in spaced parallel reation to the bottom of said tray; said plate forming, with said second end wall, said socket for said food drink container.

l2. The invention according to claim 11, in

o die oi this paient:

JAMES E. STEWART.

EEFEBENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNHED STATES PA Number Name Date @228,267 Barrow et al Apr. wil 

